by Mark Silva
President Barack Obama left the White House again this week, left the country even, but he really didn't leave much behind.
Before he left for his own first personal trip to Latin America, landing in Mexico City yesterday for a meeting with Mexican President Felipe Calderon, Obama set in motion a series of polciies and decisions making it clear that he will present a new face of the United States both in the Western Hemisphere and around the world.
None of it, for sure, goes as far as some of the president's allies in the West and East would like, and some it goes too far for many back home:
Before he left, Obama lifted travel restrictions on Cuban-Americans who want to visit their relatives and lifted limits on the money they can give their families.
But for the leaders of the Western Hemisphere meeting today in Trinidad and Tobago for a Summit of the Americas, the United States still comes up short in Cuba for insisting on perpetuating a decades-old U.S. trade embargo with the neighborhing island. And for many of the older Cuban-Americans in South Florida, including some of their representatives in Congress, Obama has gone too far in capitulating with the Castro regime.
As he was arriving in Mexico, the White House back home released an announcement that the new president would not prosecute any of the CIA operatives who exercised some of the harshest interrogation techniques on U.S.-held combatants in :the "war on terror.'' He also released details of what they did, and it was ugly, under the authorization of the former Bush Justice Department, complete with its condoning memos.
For the rest of the world, the president's prohibition of "torture'' on his watch going forward and his attempt to put this "dark'' past behind the U.S. may be welcome, while at home some wondered why the highest-level government officials, including the former president, who condoned all this should not be held accountable for it.
Clearly, both of the announcements this week delivered back home -- the Cuban-policy shift and the interrogation course -- were designed as much for foreign comsumption as for domestic consumption.
Obama was interested in getting the attention of the region, and the world, as he made his second foray into foreign lands -- first Europe and Iraq, and now his own hemisphere -- with a determined strategy of remaking the face of the U.S. around the globe.
The president said that he is intent on reengaging with the hemisphere, after two terms of American foreign policy focused on Iraq, Afghanistan and the Middle East.
The U.S., he said, is a "partner'' in the region, and neither the "junior partner'' nor the "senior partner.''
So, as Senor Partner makes his way from Mexico to Trindiad and Tobago today and home to Washington on Sunday, the world watches, the home audience waits, and everyone comes away with one certainty: Things are different on this president's watch. For better or for worse.
Photos from top to borrom: President Obama leaves the White House, top, Tim Sloan, AFP Getty Images; and Gerald Herbert, AP: Obama arrives in Mexico City, Marco Ugarte, AP; Images of leaders in Port-of-Spain, Arianna Cubilla, AP; Shopping for Obama's image in Port-of-Spain, and wearing Obama's image, Thomas Coex, AFP/Getty Images)(
Comments
The biggest mistake of his presidency was releasing CIA information regarding information gathering tactics.
When the US is attacked, thank, Barry.
Barry has denigrated the US every single time he speaks, but the US continues to fund the majority of contributions to other countries in the world.
That's right, our taxpaying money goes overseas to other countries and Barry is giving us a smaller role in decision making.
Barry never served his country. Barry has removed healthcare for veterans, labeled veterans potential terrorists. Barry is reducing our military strength. Barry wants to be transparent, so other countries will see, we are their friends. Barry, it doesn't work that way. Our enemies are laughing behind our backs while they are shaking your hand.
Can't wait till 2012.
Posted by: Felix | April 17, 2009 8:07 AM
The biggest mistake of his presidency was releasing CIA information regarding information gathering tactics.
Posted by: Felix | April 17, 2009 8:07 AM
Yes that well held secret of torture that was the brunt of jokes on national TV, pictures of Abu Ghraib, stories daily. That Barry....letting the cat out of the bag like that....tisk tisk. Also a big kudos on your discovery that money is sent to other countries..........it's only been happening for 50 years for crying out loud. On top of that there Felix. As far as relationships with other countries, they are "relationships" Felix, you just keep that relationship with your wife going by telling her your always right, you never make mistakes...........see you at the divorce attorney.
Posted by: bill r. | April 17, 2009 9:47 AM
Why does the swamp continue to allow "bill r" to go off on personal attacks on fellow bloggers?? This time he is attacking another man's wife. Yesterday...when I quoted bill r...you failed to post my blog. Is there a double standard here??
Posted by: Joe | April 17, 2009 11:09 AM
Ah joe........how funny you can write how you are the "hard" working man who supports lazy liberals.....or how conservatives love America and liberals hate America.....and somehow in that dim spot called your brain....it isn't an attack. It's all a conspiracy joe.....all those liberals are out to get you joe......keep telling us how you are the "victim" joe. The way you detected an attack on that gents wife out of my post is simply amazing. Did you use your dittohead decoder ring and figure that out?
Posted by: bill r. | April 17, 2009 12:07 PM
Hey bill r....why are you rich liberals with your big houses, and your big boats so angry? You have everything you ever wanted...a socialist in the White House, complete control of Congress, 95% control of the information presented to the folks by the means of the media, complete control of the halls of academia, radical liberal judges that over throw the will of the people....and you are still filled with hatred!! You should be the happiest guy in the world?? But your not!
Hey bill r...you know what they say about a guy who brags about the size of his boat? It means he must have a little.....
Posted by: Joe | April 17, 2009 12:38 PM
Hey bill r...you know what they say about a guy who brags about the size of his boat? It means he must have a little.....
Posted by: Joe | April 17, 2009 12:38 PM
Of course it does joe. But as a guy proud of "teabaggin", I wouldn't say too much. Maybe if your mean spirited posts that generalize about liberals being lazy, and hating America stopped, it wouldn't be necessary to put little folks like you in their place.
Posted by: bill r. | April 17, 2009 1:45 PM
Hey bill r....why don't you have the courage and explain exactly what you mean when you say "tea bagging" You seem to be fascinated with that term...you've used it at least six times today in an attempt to criticize Americans who have a different view about the role of government then you do. Grow up!!!! Besides, all the liberal pundits on television have already used that type of humor...stop stealing material from other people.
Posted by: Joe | April 17, 2009 2:47 PM
you've used it at least six times today in an attempt to criticize Americans who have a different view about the role of government then you do. Grow up!!!!
Posted by: Joe | April 17, 2009 2:47 PM
So I guess you are saying liberals are OK...they just have a different view? You mean they don't "hate" America? I get so confused....one minute liberals hate America...then they just have a different view. Please clarify.....so when you post these.....
..I am a conservative that loves this country...you are a liberal that hates this country!
Posted by: Joe | April 16, 2009 2:09 PM
All we have ever done is work hard...pay our taxes...go to church on Sunday and support the lazy liberals in this country!
Posted by: Joe | April 16, 2009 9:36 AM
Gosh...just rereading them again....I see the length you got to show your concern for all American. As far as "teabaggin"....I believe it is when you cover your eyes with the organs you think with.
Posted by: bill r. | April 17, 2009 3:42 PM
I don't watch. He doesn't get inside my living room.
Posted by: Harold Reimann | April 17, 2009 4:08 PM
The whole world wathces, MSNBC drools
Posted by: Terry | April 18, 2009 2:17 PM